Understand that the words "accuracy" and "Mini-14" generally aren't stated in the same sentence. The newer Mini-14s have been tweaked to improve accuracy, but just cannot match the accuracy of a decent AR-15. I have yet to hear of anyone using a Mini-14 successfully in a competition which demands accuracy, especially at distance.

Every AR-15 I own (7 different uppers, barrels from 14" to 24") shoots 5 round groups of less than 1" at 100 yards with multiple types of match ammo. Even the uppers with LPV optics. On my better days, those groups shrink to .5" or .6". On my best days with my best rifles, those groups shrink to .3" or .4".

My 14", 16", and 24" ARs hold vertical dispersion of 1 MOA or less out to at least 500 yards. The 18" match rifle holds 1 MOA out to 700 yards, the 20" match rifle holds 1 MOA vertical out to 800 yards. When this no longer occurs due to throat erosion, I install a new barrel.

I've yet to hear of a mini-14 that can even come close to such performance. And I sure haven't experienced anything like that live.

As far as the budget bulk ammo, I found that the 62 gr FMJ Hornady Frontier and the 55 gr BTHP match work well.

I can consistently group 1.3” (5 shot groups not 3) with the 62. Less than 2” for the 55. I have a 14.5” gunner profile with a 1.5-4 LPVO that can keep the 62 gr below 2”. (If it heats up a bit they start vertical stringing below cold poi.)

That doesn’t sound great until you shoot other bulk ammo at about a consistent 3+”.

The big rifle is sub moa with match ammo. The 14.5 hasn’t gotten there with anything yet, and won’t.

My experience with the Mini, even with the newer heavy barrel is vertical stringing. Didn’t really matter what kind of ammo used. 4-5”

-----------------------------------------------------------TCB all the time...

Originally posted by fritz:Understand that the words "accuracy" and "Mini-14" generally aren't stated in the same sentence.

For what its worth, I can shoot an apple off your head at 100 yards with MY mini 14 and open sights. I cannot do the same with any of my AR15 rifles.

My Mini-14 was not even good for minute of pie-plate at 100 yards. At 50 yards it would shoot half-dollar sized groups. No matter what quality of rest, I couldn't get it to do better. I had a Bushmaster CAR-15 that would shoot a 2 inch group with irons at 100 yards from the same rest on a good day.

I like the ole' Mini, but most of the samples from the 80's had barrels that more than a few gun writers wrote were most useful as tomato stakes.

If you can’t shoot your ARs more accurately than a mini, you might need to upgrade your ARs.

I was never in love with ARs. The buffer tube which necessitated a straight stock always irked me. I grew up shooting drop comb traditional rifles. The AR wasn’t my first semi, it was a mini.

I finally realized that a long stroke piston system, or a gas system that didn’t use the buffer was going to always be heavier and less inherently accurate than an AR.

Just like Glock, it was the simplest more versatile platform so I committed to it and made the modifications to the rifle and to me to make it work.

I wanted the SIG 556 platform to take off as a legitimate alternative to the AR but SIGs gonna SIG.

I looked at the SCAR, Galil, CZ etc and realized that if I could get past how it shouldered differently, I could custom build what I wanted at less cost. So here I am, learning to love the AR. I have a 12 LB loaded bench gun, and a 5.5 lb lightweight. I’m in the process of building an SBR, and a middleweight. I have more Optics than rifles and with QD mounts I can move them rifle to rifle and have zero notes to adjust them accordingly.

I said all that to tell you that I tried to make the mini work out to be my rifle, but it is what it is. You can’t make it something it’s not.

Sorry for the ramble.

-----------------------------------------------------------TCB all the time...